Lady Sharks Aim For Elusive National Title
By Nicholas Gowdy and Yazid Guelida
For the past three years, the Miami Dade College volleyball team’s season has ended the same way—a loss in the national championship game versus Florida SouthWestern State College.
This year, the Lady Sharks look to capture that elusive national title, a championship they last won in 2017, aided by a core that features a strong sophomore class and six freshmen.
But first, they are poised to avenge their playoff loss to the Buccaneers, who beat them four times last year. The volleyball powerhouses face off for the first time this season on Oct. 1 at Kendall.
‘’They are our biggest rivals, so we’ve been waiting and practicing a lot so we can finally (beat them),” said Lady Sharks sophomore Emelee Lopez.
The Lady Sharks, who finished with a 25-3 record last year, lost a bevy of talent to graduation. Middle blocker Esthefany Rabit signed with Lee University in Tennessee, setter Luiza De Cruz got a scholarship from California State University-Bakeresfield, right-side hitter Eduarda Dos Santos transferred to Oregon State University, libero Mia Martinez is playing for the Puerto Rican national team and outside hitter Katielle Alonzo joined the Dominican national squad.
Alonzo led the team with 266 kills while receiving National Junior College Athletic Association First-Team honors, Martinez was tops on the squad with 529 digs, Rabit had the most blocks with 1.22 per set and Da Cruz had the best hitting percentage with a .438 average.
Top returnees are right-side hitter Angelica Rodriguez who was second on the team with 232 kills, outside hitter Luyeisy Marquez-Moreno who added 259.5 points and 222 kills and is the team captain, and outside hitter Juliana Laguado Raigoas who contributed 118 points and 106 kills.
Top incoming freshmen are setters Elenora Gicheva from Bulgaria and Antonia Meiser from Germany, middle blocker Eduarda Fabricio from Brazil and outside hitter Veronika Petrova from Bulgaria.
“We’re going to work hard to bring the trophy back,” said Lady Sharks head volleyball coach Origenes “Kiko” Benoit. “The last three years we’ve been short one step and with this new group,we have a great chance to bring it back. This is a very young but very talented team.”
The Lady Sharks, who are ranked No. 2 in nation, start the regular season on the road on Aug. 29 at 3: 30 p.m. at the Dodge City Invite in Kansas versus New Mexico Military Institute.
In the first five weeks of the season, the Lady Sharks play six teams who are ranked in the top-20 this season: Top-ranked FSW, Utah State Eastern who is No. 3, Barton Community College who is No. 9, the Broncos who are No. 11, Daytona State College who is No. 15 and Dodge City Community College who is No. 18.
“We are so connected. We have a vibe,” said sophomore middle blocker Paulina Agudelo Marin. “Everyone is excited to contribute to the team.”
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